Stickpin



July 19, 1966 KAZUO [KEDA 3,261,067

STICKPIN Filed Jan. 13, 1965 United States Patent Office 3,261,067Patented July 19, 1966 3,261,067 STICKPIN Kazuo llkeda, 3010 3-chome,Kyojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan Filed Jan. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 425,141 2Claims. (Cl. 24155) This invention relates to a tie pin or a stickpin ofthe type including a pearl or any other suitable ornament, a pinprojecting from the pearl or ornament and adapted to extend through theassociated necktie and shirt, and a gripping member for releasablygripping the free end portion of the pin projecting beyond the shirt.

The stickpins of the type referred to each have been heretofore requiredto be engaged by and disengaged from the associated necktie and shirt bymoving either its gripping member or an operating element thereforlongitudinally of the pin. This results in the inconvenience ofdisengagement of such a stickpin from the necktie and shirt.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improvedstickpin capable of being engaged by and disengaged from the associatednecktie and shirt in a simple manner.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved stickpinincluding a pin having an ornament secured at one end and a grippingmember for releasably gripping the other end portion of the pin by asimple operation.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by theprovision of a stickpin including a gripping member having an improvedconstruction for .releasably gripping a pin projecting from an ornament.The gripping member is, in addition to the conventional hole throughwhich the pin extends into the same, provided in the interior with alongitudinal hollow space tapered down toward that side thereof havingthe abovementioned hole formed thereon, and a chuck element disposedcoaxially in the longitudinal hollow space for longitudinal movement andhaving a central bore extending therethrough and aligned with the hole.The chuck member includes one end portion adjacent the hole cooperatingwith the tapered wall surface of the hollow space to hold a plurality ofgrippers such as spherical balls in such a manner that, when the chuckelement is in its first position nearer to the reduced end of the hollowspace the balls tightly grip that portion of the pin extending throughthe through bore. However, when the chuck element is moved to its secondposition far away from the reduced end of the hollow space the ballsrelease the pin to permit the same to be freely withdrawn from thegripping member. In order to normally urge the chuck element to itsfirst position, a helical spring is disposed between the other endportion of the chuck element and the enlarged end of the hollow space.diate portion between both end portions having an external periphery inthe form of a truncated cone reduced toward the one end portion of thechuck element. A pair of releasing elements are movably disposed inopposing relationship such that the respective inner end portionsthereof diametrically sandwich the adjacent portion of the conicalsurface of the chuck member. The releasing elements have respectivelyshort operating projections loosely extending outwardly of the grippingmember and the inner end portions abutting against the conical wallsurface of the chuck member with the projections and The chuck elementincludes an intermethe abutting inner end portions aligned with oneanother. The projections can be moved toward each other to urge thechuck element to its second position thereby to disengage the pin fromthe balls.

The invention will become more readily apparent from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingin which:

FIG. 1 shows an enlarged front elevational view, partly in longitudinalsection of a stickpin constructed in accord ance with the teachings ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 shows a section taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a section taken along the line IIIIlI of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isillustrated a tie pin or a stickpin constructed in accordance with theteachings of the invention. The stickpin illustrated comprises aspherical body of any suitable ornament 10 such as a pearl, a pin 12projecting from the spherical body 10, and a gripping member generallydesignated by the reference numeral 14 and having a central hole 16formed on one end face of the same. The pin 12 is adapted to be normallyinserted into the central hole 16 and can be removed from the same whendesired.

The invention contemplates to provide means whereby the gripping member14 can grip and release the pin 12 in a simple and easy manner.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gripping member 14 is preferably formed of twoparts each of which may be of a truncated conical shape and which aremaintained in a unitary construction by having their larger ends screwedinto each other. According to the teachings of the invention, thegripping member 14 is provided in the interior with a longitudinalhollow space tapered down toward that side thereof having the hole 16bored thereon. To this end, one half 18 of the fastening member 14having the hole 16 formed on the reduced end face is preferably providedin the interior with a hollow longitudinal, truncated conical spaceportion 20 tapered down toward the reduced end thereof and open at thelarger end, and the other half 22 is provided in the interior with ahollow space which may be preferably a cylindrical hollow space portion24 substantially equal in diameter to the larger end of the truncatedconical space portion 20 and consecutive to the latter to form thehollow longitudinal space when assembled.

In order to releasably grip that portion of the pin 12 inserted into thegripping member 14 through the hole 16, a chuck element generallydesignated by the reference numeral 26 is disposed coaxially in thehollow space 2024 for longitudinal movement. The chuck element 26includes a central bore 28 extending therethrough and aligned with thehole 16, one end portion adjacent the hole 16 similar in shape to thetruncated conical space portion 20, and the other end portion in theform of a tube open at that end opposing to the bottom of thecylindrical space portion 24. The one end portion of the chuck element26 cooperates with the adjacent portion of the internal wall surface ofthe truncated conical space portion 20 to hold a plurality of gripperssuch as spherical balls 30 of a common diameter radially movable withrespect to the one end portion. For this purpose, the one end portionjust described may include a pair of holding disks disposed one overanother to sandwich the balls 30 therebetween for radial movement. Thelongitudinally spaced disks are connected to each other by any J)suitable means (not shown) not impeding the function of the balls aswill be apparent hereinafter. While FIG. 3 illustrates three balls 30 itis to be understood that more than three of balls may be used ifdesired.

Interposed between the closed end of the tubular end portion of thechuck element 26 and the bottom of the cylindrical space portion 24 is ahelical spring 32 tending to normally urge the chuck element 26 to itsfirst portion or toward the reduced end of the truncated conical spaceportion until the plurality of balls are in contact with each otherthereby to tightly grip the pin 12 extending through the hole 16 and thebore 28. The pin 12 can be released from the balls 30 by releasing meansas will be subsequently described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the chuck element 26 is provided with a truncatedconical surface 34 tapered down toward the abovementioned one endportion on the external periphery of the intermediate portion locatedadjacent the junction of the space portions 20 and 24. A pair ofreleasing elements 36 which may be of a semicircular shape are disposedin opposing relationship and adjacent a plane in which both grippinghalves 18 and 22 are connected to each other. The releasing element 36has formed on one end portion adjacent the conical surface 34 of thechuck element 26 a tilted portion 38 directed toward the one end portionof the chuck element 26 and complementary in shape to the opposedconical surface 34 and an operating projection on the other end portionloosely extending through an opening formed on the larger end portion ofthe clutch half 18 with the openings diametrically formed on theperiphery of the larger end portion of the gripping half 18. Thus theprojections 40 and the tilted portions 38 are aligned with one another.

It is now assumed that the gripping member 14 has been removed from thepin 12 projecting from the ornament 10. The pin 12 can first pierce theassociated necktie N and shirt S from the front face of the necktie andthat portion of the pin 12 projecting beyond the rear side .of the shirtis then inserted into the central hole 16 and then into the central bore28. During this insertion operation, the free end portion of the pin 12urges the balls 30 and hence the chuck element 26 toward the bottom ofthe longitudinal hollow space 2024 while forcing the balls 30 radiallyand outwardly until the same will assume its position illustrated inFIG. 1. This results in the pin 12 being tightly gripped'by the balls 30which, in turn, are pressed against the conical wall surface of thespace portion 20 because the clutch element 26 tends to be urged towardthe reduced end of the conical space portion 20 under the action of thespring 32.

If it is desired to remove the stickpin from the associated necktie andshirt, the pair of releasing elements 36 can be forced inwardly byhaving the operating projections 40 grasped as by the fingers. Thiscauses the tilted portions 38 of the releasing elements 36 opposing tothe conical surface 34 to move toward the bottom of the hollow space20-24 against the action of the spring 32 thereby to separate the balls30 away from each other resulting in release of the pin 12 from balls30. This permits the pin 12 to withdraw freely from the fastening member1822.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the gripping member canreleasably engage the pin only by forcing the pin into the grippingmember while the pin can easily disengage from the gripping member onlyby forcing the pair of releasing elements into the gripping members.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with a preferredembodiment thereof it is to be understood that various changes in thedetail of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. For example, instead of the balls 30, a plurality of rods maybe arranged to radially slide along the retaining disk such asillustrated. Also the releasing element 36 may be the form of a strip.

What I claim is:

1. A stickpin including an ornament, a pin projecting from the ornament,and a gripping member for releasably gripping the free end portion ofthe pin and having formed therein a central hole through which the pinextends, wherein said gripping member includes therein a longitudinalhollow space tapered down toward that side thereof having the holeformed therein, a chuck element disposed coaxially in said longitudinalhollow space for longitudinal movement and having a central boreextending therethrough, a plurality of spherical balls held by one endportion of said chuck element adjacent said hole and the adjacentportion of the tapered wall surface of the hollow space in such a mannerthat, when the chuck element is in its first position nearer to thereduced end of the hollow space, the balls tightly grip that portion ofsaid pin extending through said central bore and that, when the chuckelement is moved to its second position far away from said reduced endof said hollow space, the balls release the pin, a helical springdisposed between the other end portion of said chuck element and thebottom of said hollow space to tend to urge said chuck element to itsfirst position, said chuck element including an intermediate portionhaving an external periphery in the form of a truncated cone reducedtoward said one end portion thereof, and a pair of releasing elementseach including an inner end portion abutting against said intermediateconical portion and a short operating projection loosely extendingoutwardly of said gripping element and aligned with said inner endportions, said releasing elements being movably disposed in opposingrelationship such that the respective inner end portions thereofdiametrically sandwich the adjacent portion of said conical surface ofsaid chuck element.

2. A stickpin including an ornament, a pin projecting from the ornament,and a gripping member for releasably gripping the free end portion ofthe pin and having formed therein on one side a central hole throughwhich the pin extends, wherein said gripping member consists of twoparts in the form of a truncated cone maintained by having the largerends thereof screwed into each other, one half of said gripping memberhaving said central hole being provided in the interior with a hollowlongitudinal, truncated conical space portion tapered down toward thereduced end thereof and open at the larger end, the other half of saidgripping member being provided in the interior with a hollowlongitudinal cylindrical space portion substantially equal in diameterto the larger end of the truncated conical space portion and consecutiveto the latter to form a hollow longitudinal space, said gripping memberincluding a chuck element disposed coaxially in said longitudinal hollowspace for longitudinal movement and having a central bore extendingtherethrough, said chuck element including one end portion adjacent thereduced end of said hollow space similar in shape to the latter, anintermediate portion located adjacent the junction of said grippinghalves and having an external periphery in the form of a truncated conereduced toward said one portion, and the other end portion in the formof a tube open at one end, three spherical balls held by said one endportion of said chuck element and the adjacent portion of the internalwall of said truncated conical space in such a manner that, when thechuck element is in its first position nearer to the reduced end of thehollow space, the balls tightly grip that portion of said pin extendingthrough said central bore and that, when the chuck element is moved toits second position far away from said reduced end of said hollow space,the balls release the pin, a helical spring disposed Within said tubularend portion of said chuck element and having an end resting on thebottom of said hollow space to tend to urge said chuck element to itsfirst position, and a pair of releasing elements in the form of asemi-circle,

each having formed on the inner end portion abutting against saidintermediate conical portion a tilted surface directed toward said oneend portion of said chuck element and complementary in shape to saidintermediate conical surface and formed on the other end portion a shortoperating projection loosely extending outwardly of said gripping memberthrough an opening formed on the larger end portion of said one half ofsaid gripping member, said releasing elements being movably disposed inopposing relationship such that the tilted surfaces thereofdiametrically sandwich the adjacent portion of said conical surface ofsaid chuck element, movement of said releasing elements toward eachother causing said chuck element to move to its second position therebyto release the pin from the three balls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EDWARD C. ALLEN,Primary Examiner. D. GRIFFIN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A STICKPIN INCLUDING AN ORNAMENT, A PIN PROJECTING FROM THE ORNAMENT,AND A GRIPPING MEMBER FOR RELEASABLY GRIPPING THE FREE END PORTION OFTHE PIN AND HAVING FORMED THEREIN A CENTRAL HOLE THROUGH WHICH THE PINEXTENDS, WHEREIN SAID GRIPPING MEMBER INCLUDES THEREIN A LONGITUDINALHOLLOW SPACE TAPERED DOWN TOWARD THAT SIDE THEREOF HAVING THE HOLEFORMED THEREIN, A CHUCH ELEMENT DISPOSED COAXIALLY IN SAID LONGITUDINALHOLLOW SPACE FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT AND HAVING A CENTRAL BOREEXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A PLURALITY OF SPHERICAL BALLS HELD BY ONE ENDPORTION OF SAID CHUCK ELEMENT ADJACENT SAID HOLE AND THE ADJACENTPORTION OF THE TAPERED WALL SURFACE OF THE HOLLOW SPACE IN SUCH A MANNERTHAT, WHEN THE CHUCK ELEMENT IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION NEARER TO THEREDUCED END OF THE HOLLOW SPACE, THE BALLS TIGHTLY GRIP THAT PORTION OFSAID PIN EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CENTRAL BORE AND THAT, AND THE ADJACENTPORTION OF THE TAPERED WALL SURFACE OF FAR AWAY FROM SAID REDUCED END OFSAID HOLLOW SPACE, THE BASE RELEASE THE PIN, A HELICAL SPRING DISPOSEDBETWEEN THE OTHER END PORTION OF SAID CHUCK ELEMENT AND THE BOTTOM OFSAID HOLLOW SPACE TO TEND TO URGE SAID CHUCK ELEMENT TO ITS FIRSTPOSITION, SAID CHUCK ELEMENT INCLUDING AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION HAVING ANEXTERNAL PERIPHERY IN THE FORM OF A TRUNCATED CONE REDUCED TOWARD SAIDONE END PORTION THEREOF, AND A PAIR OF RELEASING ELEMENTS EACH INCLUDINGAN INNER END PORTION ABUTTING AGAINST SAID INTERMEDIATE CONICAL PORTIONAND A SHORT OPERATING PROJECTION LOOSELY EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAIDGRIPPING ELEMENT AND ALIGNED WITH SAID INNER END PORTIONS, SAIDRELEASING ELEMENTS BEING MOVABLY DISPOSED IN OPPOSING RELATIONSHIP SUCHTHAT THE RESPECTIVE INNER END PORTIONS THEREOF DIAMETRICALLY SANDWICHTHE ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID CONICAL SURFACE OF SAID CHUCK ELEMENT.